Ogwumike's huge game leads No. 2 Stanford

Ogwumike had a career-game with 30 points and 23 rebounds and
No. 2 Stanford held off a stiff challenge from Oregon before
winning 100-80 on Saturday. She set the school's single-game
rebounding record, surpassing the 21 that Nicole Powell got on
Jan. 13, 2002, also against the Ducks.

"She's so fluid," Oregon coach Paul Westhead said. "We would
locate her, but it didn't last long. Her ability as a rebounder
is devastating. She gets everything."

Jayne Appel also had 17 points and Jeanette Pohlen scored 15 for
the Cardinal (17-1, 7-0 Pac-10), who have won eight straight
since their only loss of the season to No. 1 Connecticut on Dec.
23.

Nia Jackson also had a career-high 26 points for the Ducks
(12-7, 3-4). Micaela Cocks added 17 points and Taylor Lilley
scored 16 in what was the highest scoring game between Oregon
and Stanford all time.

But two days after being outrebounded 53-31 in a loss to
California, the Ducks were again badly boarded, 48-36, with
Ogwumike leading the way.

"She was everywhere," Jackson said. "She'd go up for a rebound
and there were no (other) hands near the ball. She made it hard
for us."

Oregon, which leads the nation in scoring at 85.9 points per
game, actually kept itself in the game against Stanford with its
defense.

The Ducks' press forced 10 turnovers in the frontcourt by
Stanford - including seven in the first half - and 16 overall.
Their zone defense help take away the inside game, where the
Cardinal had a notable size advantage.

"I don't think we handled the ball as well as we needed to in
the first half, obviously," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said.
"But our guards are stepping up, and that's what we need them to
do to open things up for Jayne and Nnemka and people inside."

Stanford countered from the perimeter, making a season-high 13
3-pointers on a season-high 35 attempts.

"That's something that's good for our team, to be able to knock
down those shots," VanDerveer said. "We had seen them in a 3-2
zone, but we hadn't seen them in a 3-2 zone the whole game. I
think that just shows respect for our post players."

Ogwumike had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the first half and
Jackson had 18 points for the Ducks - two off her career-high.

The Cardinal trailed 11-7 three minutes into the game following
a three-point play by the Ducks' Victoria Kenyon. But Ogwumike
took over, scoring 11 points in a 22-7 run that put Stanford up
29-18 with 10:03 to play in the half.

Jackson got Oregon back to within a point, 39-38, with a pair of
free throws, but Stanford scored the next eight points to extend
its lead to 47-38.

But again the Ducks rallied, and Jackson capped a 9-0 Oregon run
with a score off a turnover with 1:07 left in the half to tie
the game at 49. Stanford answered, getting a rebound basket from
Ogwumike and 3-pointer by Joslyn Tinkle in the final minute to
take a 54-50 lead into the break.

"The game felt close the whole time, and I like that feeling,"
Ogwumike said. "It's getting us ready for the future, and I
think this is a very good team to play. I'm so glad that they're
in our conference."

Ogwumike kept in going at the start of the second half, scoring
the first four points to push Stanford's lead to 58-50.

Trailing 80-73, Jackson made a layup with 8:36 to play to cut
the Ducks deficit to five points, but that was as close as they
would get as the Cardinal outscored Oregon 20-5 the rest of the
way.